China New Xian H-20 Bomber A Copy of US B-2

China New Xian H-20 Bomber A Copy of US B-2

People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) bomber fleet is steadily being modernized, and plans call for a next-generation stealthy, multi-role bomber.

The Xian H-20 is a subsonic stealth bomber design. The aircraft will feature a wing design similar to that of the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit, with components already being manufactured. Analysts noted that the new type bomber may enter service by 2025.

A small-scale test model of China’s next-generation bomber, a flying wing unofficially dubbed the H-20, has been spotted by satellite at Gaobeidian, a radar cross-section test range near Beijing. China state media CCTV estimates the H-20 will have stealth features, a maximum takeoff weight of at least 200 tons and payload capacity of up to 45 tons.

China New Xian H-20 Bomber A Copy of US B-2

The H-20 resembles the U.S. Air Force’s B-2 Spirit bomber and the Northrop Grumman X-47B unmanned combat air vehicle demonstrator. However, military analyst Wang Mingliang told CCTV that the H-20 cannot be compared with the B-2 as it will perform missions beyond strategic bombings, such as electronic warfare.

In September 2016, the Ministry of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China has confirmed that the next-gen long-range bomber is under development.

“We are now developing a new generation of a long-range bomber, and you’ll see it in the future,” said Commander of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) of China Ma Xiaotian.

Apart from that China released a video teaser of its H-20 stealth bomber and trolled the US’s stealth bombers in the process

The video, which China Daily tweeted, ends with a shadowy wide shot of bomber-looking aircraft covered in a sheet with text reading “The Next” appearing on the screen.

The shot looks eerily similar to a Northrop Grumman advertisement of the B-21 Raider, which ran during the 2015 Super Bowl, The Drive reported, adding that China Defense Online may have also added the ending itself. As such, it’s unclear if it’s legit.